I have spent the last four years here at Case Western Reserve University with a lot more regrets than I wanted. I sometimes wish I structured my coursework each semester in a way that would not be so difficult for me to manage. Other times I wish I would have taken a chance on a club or spent more time with another than I originally did. But a lot of the time I wish that I wrote more for The Observer and joined the Editorial Board earlier than I actually did. 

I started out at The Observer in September of my first year when I was still adapting to my schedule. After a meeting for interested writers, I had the opportunity to connect with the former Life Editor, Shreyas Banerjee, who would eventually become Executive Editor the year afterward. I was not always very confident in my writing abilities, but having an affable and eccentric lead helped take the pain out of it. Writing for The Observer became a motivator of sorts—one that allowed me to appreciate the media we consume and even form my own opinions and taste. I do not think I can recall a time where I wanted to listen to or watch some piece of creative material before truly sitting with them and unpacking my thoughts on it. I was always the kind of person who listens to or watches something just as background noise, but writing for the paper actually allows me to sit down and take the time to appreciate what I am writing about. 

Eventually I began to write more, albeit with some long periods of silence because of the weight of my academic obligations. But the passion and enjoyment that came along with writing still remained. Eventually, it came to a point where a close friend suggested that I apply for the Editorial Board. 

I hesitated for a decent chunk of time, since the idea of doing something on that level seemed somewhat daunting. But getting to sit down and talk with the team made me realize that running a quality publication can take hard work, but not the kind of work that will consume you. By joining the editorial board in my third year, I was able to make more of an impact in different ways than I had previously. In my time with the paper I have been responsible for social media and videography, but also have had the chance to provide additional reporting, breaking updates, photos and more. I got to meet a board full of like-minded students who were always supportive and welcoming of any outside help if needed—plus I can’t forget all the free merchandise. 

All of this explains why I regret not joining The Observer sooner than I did. It has been an amazing experience working with great people who do great work and care not just about keeping an entire university informed, but also about the people who are responsible for that effort. I am glad that I was able to spend almost half my time at CWRU with a top-notch publication and a top-notch group of friends and colleagues. While I have my regrets, I also have the memories of what I’ve managed to accomplish. And at the end of the day, maybe I have observed just about enough for now.